Cycle timer



July 7, 1936. E. w. HUBER 2,047,127

CYCLE TIMER Filed Aug, 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Era rd Mfluber, BY "@4019 ATTORNEY$.

July 7, 1936. E. w. HUBER 2,047,127

CYCLE TIMER Filed Aqg. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIE E INVENTOR.

Eran? Wfiuber,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 7, 1936 PATENT FFICEL v CYCLE Erard W. Huber, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Grouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y a corporation of New York Application August 11, 193:, Serial No, 684,748

2 Claims.- (01. 115-320) This invention relates to a cycle timer of the type operable through a predetermined; cycle having a plurality of periods, the timer being used to control a plurality of electrical circuits.'

An object of the invention is a cycle timer operating upon, or consuming, a minimum amount of energy, and operating with a minimum amount of maintenance or repair, and which can be constructed at a minimum manufacturing cost.

A further ,object of the invention is the provision of means for varying the duration of each period of the cycle without affecting the duration of any other period of the cycle. period of the cycle may be varied without affecting the relative duration of the periods of the cycle. 7

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in the drawings, the timer being shown'as associate with a highway trafiic signal.

- In Figure l the timer is represented diamatically;

Fig. 2 is an across the line schematic diagram of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with the green or go signal displayed to the highway, the conductors carrying current at this period being represented by the heavy lines..

The invention comprises generally, switching mechanism for controlling the plurality of electrical circuits to be controlled, an energizing circuitfor operating the switching mechanism, a pair of thermionic valves, and means controlled by the switching mechanism for successively connecting and disconnecting said valves in the energizing circuit, a condenser connected across ,the filament and the control grid of each of said valves, a chargmg circuit, and a discharging circuit for said condensers, means controlled by said switching mechanism to connect one of said thermionic valves in the energizing circuit during certain periods of the cycle, and to disconnect said valve and connect the second valve in said circuit during the remaining periods of the cycle, and means also controlled by said switching mechanism to connect the condensers to the charging circuit while the valves are connected to the energizing circuit, a plurality of control circuits, and means controlled by said switching mechanism to successively connect said controlcircuits to the charging circuit during :successive periods of the cycle when the respec- Also, the total tlve valves are connected to the energizing circuit, whereby the flow of current through the energizing circuit of theswitching mechanism is controlled by the thermionic valves, or by the charge of their associated condensers which in turn are controlled by the control circuits energizing the charging circuit of the condensers. The invention also includes means in the respective control circuits for varying the flow of tion of the respective periods oi the cycle may be varied.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a power transformer having a primary winding II,

current through said circuit whereby the dural and. secondary windings I2, I3 and I4. The1 secondary windings I2 and Id are of comparatively low voltage with an output of 2 or less volts. The secondary winding I3 is of comparatively high voltage, the output being approxi- -mately 270 volts. The secondary winding I4 furnishes filament current to the vacuum tubes,

or thermionic valves, I5, I6. One side of the winding I3 is connected through the relays I1, 68, I9, to the plates 20, 2i, of the tubes I5, I6,

I a through the conductors 30, 3|. One side of I the winding It is connected to the relay I! through the conductor 32, and. the other side of the relay ii is connected to the conductor 36 which, in turn, is connected to one side of the relays I8 and id. The other side 02 the relay I3 is connected through the stationary contact 35, movable contact 39, conductor 31, to the plate 20 of the tube IS. The other side of the relay I9 is connected by the conductor 38 to the stationary contact 39, movable contact 40, conductor M, to the plate 2i of tube I6. The other side of the winding 83 is connected to the conductor by. the wire 62. As thus described, there is a circuit of comparatively high voltage through the relays I'I, I8, I8, to the plates 20, 2| of the valves I5, I6. These relays and the valves are so designed that when the filaments 23, 24, of the tubes become heated. and the grids 66, 61 are at zero potential relative to the filaments 23, 24,

suflicient current will pass through the tube to operate the relays [ll], it, it). However, one of the relays E8, or i3, is so adjusted, or designed, that it will pick up or operate before the other. The contacts 35, 36, 39, 4d, are associated with the relays I9, i8, respectively, and the contacts 36, are attached to the armature of the relay and moved thereby when the relay is properly energized.

Assuming that relay it is adjusted so that it will close previous to the closing of the relay it, it will be noted that the relay 09 can not then operate, or close, due to the fact that the contacts 39, 48 associated with relay it have become separated thus breaking the circuit to the relay I9. Upon the closing of the relay it, the contact E5 is moved out of engagement with the contact 46. The contact is supplied with a hot source of current, and the contact 46 is connected to the relay 25 through the conductor 41. The relay Z5 is therefore, deenergized and its movable contacts 43, '43 are in engagement with the stationary contacts 58, 50. The contact 49 is hot at all times, and when new in engagement with contact iii, current is supplied to the movable contact52 associated with load relay 26, and as this relay is also now deenergized, due to the operation of relay ill, contact 52 is in engagement with contact 53.

In employing the device as a timer for traflic signals, the contact Si is connected to the red, or stop, signal CR on the cross street, and contact 53 is connected to the green, or go, signal MG on the main street.

Means is employed for regulating, or modulating the flow of current through the valves 65, I6, which means is, in turn, controlled by a super-sensitive means whereby a very fine or close control of the current flowing through the valves I5, I6 is provided. Primarily, the means for controlling the flow of current through the tubes I5, I65, comprises condensers 60, ti, one side of these condensers being connected to the conductor 30, through the conductors 62, 63, re-

sistances H4, I2'I, and conductor 65. The other side of the condensers 60, SI, are connected to the grids G6, 61, of the tubes 85, i6 respectively.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the potential supplied to the grids of the tubes I5, I6, controls the current flowing between the plates 20, 2t, and the filaments 23, 24. As the potential increases at the grids G6, 61, negative to the filaments 23, 24 the flow of current through the valves 05, I6, diminishes, and when this current diminishes to a predetermined value, the relays I8, l9, associated with the tubes I5, IE, will drop out, or open, as will also the relay II. The side of the condenser 60, which is connected to the grid 66, is connected by a conductorlil to the movable contact ll associated with relay I8 and operated thereby. As shown in the drawings, the movable contacts 48, 45, and I I, are all associated with the armature of relay i8, and when the relay is deenergized, the movable contacts are in their down position, as indicated in Figure 1. Therefore, as relay i8 is now energized, contact III will be in engagement with contact M which is connected by conductor 73 to movable contact l t associated with relay Ill and which, because the same is energized, is now in engagement with contact 715 which, in turn through conductor i6; is connected to the plate ill of the tube 78. One side of the filament iii of tube 18 is connected to the conductor 36, and

- to the filament.

aoamcv the other side through conductor to the variable resistances iii, 82.

Inasmuch as the relay. 25 is deenergized, the contacts 48, '50, are engaged, and a circuit is completed through the resistance 82, conductor 5 83, contact 50, movable contact 48, conductor 84, stationary contact 85, movable contact 86, conductor 81, winding I2, conductor 34, to the other side of the filament I9 of tube I8. That is,

the filament IQ of the tube 18 is heated through connection with the secondary winding 92 of the transformer 98.

It appears from the circuit just described, that the condenser 60 is connected in circuit through the tube I8, and the rate of charge of 15 the condenser 60 is controlled by the amount of current flowing through the tube 18. The tube 718 is of the two electrode type, the electrodes consisting of the plate l1 and the filament I9. The charging current for the condensers 60, 6|, is 20 obtained from the high voltage winding I3 of the transformer III. The charging circuit for the condenser 60 includes the wires 30, I55, resistance I I4, wire 62, condenser 60, wire I0, armature II, contact 12, wire I3, armature 14, contact 25 805, wire I06, plate I01, filament I02, wires I04, 34, relay I'l, wire 32. The charging circuit for the condenser BI is similar, except it passes through armature II6, contact I". Also, the charging circuit is shifted from tube to I8 30 by operation of the armature I4.

It is also well known to those skilled in the art that the current flow through a vacuum tube, or thermionic valve, may be modulated by controlling the temperature of the filament as well as varying the potential of the grid with respect The latter method is used in connection with the modulation of tubes I5, I8, and change in filament temperature is employed in tubes 18, 90.

In the filament circuit of tube 18, as previously described above, the current from the secondary winding I2 passes through the variable resistance 82 and accordingly, by adjusting the resistance 82 the temperature of the filament 19 may 5 be varied and therefore, varying the fiow or current through the tube 18 and therefore, varying the rate of charge of the condenser 60. As the resistance 82 is cut down, the charging rate of the condenser is raised, and the same will become charged in less time than if more of the resistance 82 was cut in circuit.

It will be noted that the charge built up on the side of the condenser to which the grid is connected is-a negative one relative to the filament of thermionic tube I5. The reason for this is because this side of the condenser is connected to the plates of the valves 18 or 90 so that the current must flow through the tube from the plates to the cathode or filaments 19, I02. The current flowing from positive to negative therefore establishes the side of the condenser connected to the resistance 64 as positive, and any change in the charge of the condenser must necessarily be that the charge on the condenser 65 plates connected to the grids assumes a charge negative relative to the condenser plates connected to the resistance 64, these plates being at all times at the same, or nearly the same, potential as the filaments 23 and 24 of tubes iii and 66, as these plates are metaliically connected to the filaments 23, 24.

As the condenser 68 becomes charged and thereby raises the potential negatively on the grid 55, the current flow through the tube is 75 reduced. Eventually, this current flow is reduced to the point where the relays II, I8 now 'in circuit with the tube I5 will drop out. However, the relay II is so designed, or adjusted, that it will drop out at a higher current value than the relay I9.

For example, the relay Il may drop out when the current flow through the tube I5 drops to .005 ampere, and the relay I9 at .002 ampere. Accordingly, the relay II always drops out before the relay I9 or I9.

When the relay I1 drops out, the movable contacts 89, 9|, move downwardly into engagement with contacts 92, 99. This shifting of the contacts of relay I1 energizes the work relay 29 in the following manner: The contact 9| is at all times hot, being connected through "conductors I50, I5I, to one side of the feed circuit I52, and is connected to one side of the relay 29 through the conductor 94, the other side of the relay being connected to the other side of the line. The movable contacts 52, 95,013 the load relay 29, now energize, move into engagement with contacts 95, 91. However, only the contact 52 is hot inasmuch as the movable contact 49 of relay 25, which is always hot, is in engagement",

with contact 5| which is connected to movable contact 52 through conductor 44. This, in practical efiect, causes a shift from the load circuit, connected with the contact 53, to the load circuit connected with the contact 99.

As previously described, when the device is employed as a traflic signaling timer, the contact 59 is connected to the green, or go, signal MG on the main street. The contact 96 is connected to the amber, or caution, signal MA on the main street. It will be remembered that the stop, or red, signal CR on the cross street is connected with contact 5|. Therefore, up to the moment we still have a display of the cross street red, and display of the main street amber, in place of the main street go, or green. This particular sequence of colors is known, to those skilled in the art, as amber, following the green only. However, it is obvious that any sequence of colors, such as amber following the red, or amber overlapping, can be obtained by bringing conductors from the various contacts of the work relays 25, 26, to, a terminal block and then interchanging the connections to secure the desired sequence.

When the relay II dropped out, the tube 90 became substituted for the tube I9,'t he substitution also including a new variable resistance I00. This substitution being effected as followsi The movable contact 95 is moved out of engagement with contact which broke the circuit to the filament I9 of tube I9, and is moved into en gagement with contact 92 which is connected to the variable resistance I00 through the conductor IOI, movable contact I20, contact I3I, and conductor I32. The other side of the resistance I00 is connected to one leg 01' the filament I02 of tube through the conductor I03, the other leg of the filament I02 being connected to the conductor 30 through conductor I04. Also, the contact "I4 has moved out of engagement with contact I5 which was connected to the plate 11 of tube I9 through conductor I5, and has movedinto engagement with contact I05 which is connected through conductor I06 to the plate I0I of tube 90. It is to be remembered that movable contact 14 is connected to one'side of the condenser 90 through conductor I0, contacts Ii,

I2, conductor I3. The contacts II, I2 are still in engagement due to the fact that the relay I9 has not as yet dropped out.

We have now the charging rate of the condenser 50 controlled by the tube 90 and the variable resistance I00. It will be'observed that while the load circuit associated with contact 59 was under the control of the variable resistance 92, the new load circuit associated with contact 99 is under the control of a separate variable resistance I00. The circuits thus far described, constitute an important feature 01' my invention. It will be noted that there are no moving parts in my timer, except the armatures oi the relays, and due to the fact that the relays I I, I9, I9, only break suflicient current to operate the work or load relays 25, 26, they will operate indefinitely without any material destruction to their contacts. However, theconductors 41, 94, may be employed as work circuits, depending on what purpose the timer is used for.

' Also, in view of the fact that the tubes I5, I5, I9, and 90, are only used to modulate the current flowing through the relays I1, I9, I9, the filament current employed is much less than the normal operating current for the tube. This lower potential increases the life of the tube many fold. Obviously, high resistances may be employed in place of the tubes I9, 90, to control the charging rate of the condensers 90, 5|. However, serious disadvantages are encountered by the use 01' such resistances due to the fact that their function is affected by changes in atmospheric conditions, such as temperature and humidity. These changes are of such a nature that accurate timing can not be obtained. Also suchresistance would be subject to the usual orbecame damaged, the apparatus would fail entirely to function.

The description has proceeded thus far to the point where the rate of charge of the condenser 504s under thecontrol of the tube 90. Eventually as this condenser becomes charged, and the negative potential raised sufliciently on the grid- 95, the flow of current through the tube I5 will gradually diminish, and the relay I9 will drop out. This will establish the circuit through the loadqelay--25 and permit the movable contacts 49,-flg to move out of engagement with contacts 50, 5|; and into engagement with contacts IIO, III; Inasmuch as the contact 49 is always hot,

this opens the work circuit connected to the con' tact 5|, and closes the work circuit connected with the contact III which, in trafllc signal use, will be the main street red, or stop, indication MR. Simultaneously, with the dropping out of relay I9, the contacts 39, 40, will again become engaged, and a new circuit will be completed through the relays II, I9, to the plate 2| of tube I 6', and the relay II will again instantaneously close as will also the relay I9.

, When the relay I9 drops out, its movable contact II will become engaged with stationary contact 2 which is connected to the conductor 30, through the conductor Hi. This forms a short circuit through the condenser 60 and portion N4 of the high resistance 64. This will cause a discharge of the condenser 60 so that when it is again connected in the charging circuit, it will start from a zero value, whereby the timing will always remain constant. The discharge oi the condenser 60 is not instantaneous, due to the portion II4 of the high resistance. The object of this is to prevent a reflow, or surge, of current through the tube I5 which might again close the relay I8 before the relay l9 closes, or cause the relay I8 to chatter. This feature is important when the timer is used for tramc si nal work.

The closing of the relays I7 and i9 is instantaneous, due to the fact that there is no. potential on the grid 61 of the tube I6, there is an appreciable flow, or surge, of current through the tube and, accordingly, through the relays. Also, upon closing of the relay I1, the hot movable contact 9| is shifted out of engagement with the contact 93 which is connected in circuit to the load relay 26 through the conductor 94 and therefore, the relay 26 is again opened, shifting the movable contact 95, which is connected through conductor I33 to contact IiI, into engagement with contact II5 which is connected to a new load circuit, or in the present instance, to the cross street go signal CG.

In the description thus far, the timer has passed through two periods of its cycle, and is now on the third. Initially, the cross street red, and the main street green, were displayed. Following that, the main street green was extinguished, and the main street amber displayed. At present, the cross street red is extinguished, and the main street red displayed together with the cross street green.

The operation of the third and fourth periods of the cycle is substantially the same as the previous periods. When the relay i9 closed, movable contact II6 moved into engagement with contact I" which connected one side of the condenser 6I with the conductor l3 which in turn, through the now closed contacts ll, 15, is connected to the plate 11 of the tube 18. One leg of the filament 19 of this tube is connected to conductor 34, and the other leg connected through the variable resistance 8|, through conductor I30, contacts I I0, 48, conductor 84, contacts 85, 86, conductor 81, to the other side of the secondary winding I2. This circuit is the same as that previously described, except that because of the fact the relay I8 is now open, the relay 25 is energized, and the shifting of the contact 48 into engagement with the contact I I0 cuts in the variable resistance 8I in place of the variable resistance 82.

The condenser 6I is now being charged at the rate determined by the flow of current through the tube 18 which in turn is controlled by the variable resistance 8|. As the potential on the grid 61 rises, and the flow of current through the tube I6 decreases, the relay I1 again drops out. This operation again removes the tube 18 from the charging circuit of the condenser 6|, and substitutes the tube in said circuit. This is accomplished by the shifting of the movable contact 86 from engagement with the contact 85, and into engagement with the contact 92 which, through the conductor IOI, movable contact I20, stationary contact I22, resistance I23, conductor I03, completes the circuit through the filament I02 of tube 90, and the plate I01 of tube 90 is now connected in circuit through conductor i106, contacts I05, I4, conductor 13, to the condenser 6I, so that the charging rate of the condenser 6l is now under the control of tube 90. Also, by the dropping out of relay I1, the hot movable contact 9I moves'into engagement with contact 93 which, through conductor 94, is connected to energize the relay 26 which thereupon shifts the movable contact into engagement with the contact 91 which is connected to a new load circuit, or the cross street amber CA. The condenser 6| continues to charge, and as the potential on the grid 61 increases, the current flow through the tube I6 decreases, and the relay I9 will drop out. The time of this operation is controlled by the setting of the variable resistance I23. Simultaneously, the movable contact H6 will be moved into engagement with stationary contact H25 which, through conductor I26, forms a short circuit for the condenser through the portion I2? of the high resistance 64 and the condenser is discharged in the same manner as was the condenser 60.

When the relay I9 dropped out, the movable contact 36 engaged the contact 35 which again completed the circuit through the relays I1, I0.

tube I5, and both of the relays i'l, I8, closed,

thus opening the load relays 26 and 25 reestablishing the circuit to the cross street red through contact 5i, and the main street greenthrough contact 53. The apparatus now starts on a new cycle, as previously described.

What I claim is:

l. A work cycle timer including three relays, thegcoils of the second and third relays being connected each in series with the coil of the first relay, a pair of thermionic valves, one associated with each of the second and third relays, a source of electrical potential for heating the filaments of the valves, the valve associated with the second relay having its plate connected in series therewith through the contacts of the third relay, when deenergized, and the plate of the second valve being connected in series with the third relay through the contacts of the second relay, when deenergized, a condenser connected across the filament and the control grid of each of said valves, a charging circuit and a discharging circuit for each of said condensers, said charging and discharging circuits for each condenser being controlled by the relay associated I with the tube to which the condenser is connected, a plurality of branch circuits for each of said charging circuits, each of said branch circuits including means for regulating the flow of current through the charging circuits, each charging circuit'being shiftable from one branch circuit to another by the operation of the first relay, the first, second and third relays being arranged to operate on different amplitudes of current, whereby the first relay will close previous to the closing of either the second or third relays, and one of said latter relays will close previous to the closing of the other, and a pair of work circuits, one of which is controlled by the operation of the second relay, and the other by the operation of the first relay.

2. A work cycle timer operable through a cycle having a plurality of periods, said timer including switching means, an electro-responsive actuator for operating the switching means, a pair of operating circuits connected, through said switching means, to said actuator, each of said operating circuits including a thermionic valve, and a condenser connected across the control grid and the filament of each valve, 9. pair of 75 charging circuits connected, through said switching means, to said condensers, each of said control circuits including means for controlling the charging current of said condensers, said switching means operating during its actuation through the cycle, to successively connect and disconnect the operating circuits to the actuator and the control circuits to the condensers.

3. A work cycle timer operable through a cycle having a plurality of periods, said timer including switching means, an electro-responsive actuator for operating the switching means, an operating circuit connected, through said switching means, to said actuator and including a thermionic valve, a condenser connected across the control grid and the filament of said valve, a pair of charging circuits connected, through said switching means, to said condenser, each of said charging circuits including means for controlling the charging current of said condenser, a discharge circuit connected to said condenser through said switching means, said switching means operating, during its actuation through the cycle, to successively connect and disconnect the charging circuits to said condenser and subsequently, to connect and disconnect the discharge circuit to said condenser.

4. A work cycle timer operable through a cycle having a plurality of periods, said timer including switching means, an electro-responsive actuator for operating the switching means, a pair of operating circuits connected, through said switching means, to said actuator, each of said operating circuits including a thermionic valve, a condenser connected across the control grid and the filament of each valve, a pair of charging circuits connected through said switching means to said condensers, each of said charging circuits including a thermionic valve, said switching means operating, during its actuation through the cycle, to successively connect and disconnect the operating circuits to the actuator and the charging circuits to the condensers, and means, in the charging circuits, for regulating the flow of current through the thermionic valves.

5. A cycle timer operable through a predetermined cycle having a plurality of periods to control a plurality of electrical circuits, including relay switches operable to open and close said electrical circuits, and means for operating said relay switches through the cycle including energizing circuits for said switches, a thermionic valve connected in each of said energizing circuits in series and arranged to control the flow or current therein, a condenser connected across the filament and control grid of each of said valves, a charging circuit for each condenser, the charging circuit for one of said condensers being connected through the movable contacts of one relay switch, and the charging circuit for the other condenser being connected through the movable contacts of another relay switch, and means controlled by said relay switches to vary the amplitude of the current in said charging circuits during difierent periods of the cycle.

6. A work cycle timer including switching means, and means for operating the switching means through a cycle having a plurality of periods to control a plurality of work circuits, said means including an electro-responsive actuator for operating the switching means, a pair of operating circuits for said actuator, each including a thermionic valve, a condenser connected across the control grid and the filament of each thermionic valve, a pair of charging circuits, each including means for controlling the charging current of said condensers, said switching means, during its actuation through the cycle, operating to connect said actuator in one of said operating circuits, and to connect one of said charging circuits to the condenser of the thermionic valve of said operating circuit during the first period of the cycle, and to connect the other of said charging circuits to said condenser during the second period of the cycle, and said switching means being further operable to connect said actuator in the other operating circuit and one of the charging circuits to the condenser 01' the thermionic valve of said other operating circuit during the third period, and in the fourth period to connect the other charging circuit to said condenser.

'7. A work cycle timer operable through a cycle having a; plurality of periods, said timer including switching means, an electro-responsive actuator for operating the switching means, a pair of operating circuits connected, through said switching means, to said actuator, each of said operating circuits including a thermionic valve and a condenser connected across the control grid and the filament of each valve, a chargin circuit connected, through said switching means to said condenser, a plurality of control circuits each including means for controlling the flow of current in said charging circuit, said control circuits being connected through said switching means to said charging circuit, said switching means operating during its actuation through the cycle, to successively connect and disconnect the operating circuits to the actuator and the control circuits to said charging circuit.

ERARD W. HUBER. 

